BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                          SB 178 (Simitian)
          
          Hearing Date: 04/11/2011        Amended: 03/15/2011
                                          As proposed to be amended
          Consultant: Brendan McCarthy    Policy Vote: EQ 4-1
          















































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          BILL SUMMARY: SB 178 authorizes the Green Ribbon Science Panel 
          (created as part of the state's Green Chemistry Initiative) to 
          create subgroups to study specific issues relating to the 
          science of green chemistry.
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                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2011-12      2012-13       2013-14     Fund
           
          Teleconference meetingsUp to $40 per year               General 
          *                      

          * Toxic Substances Control Account.
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          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: 
          
          Under the Green Chemistry Initiative (AB 1879, Feuer, 2008 and 
          SB 509, Simitian, 2008) the Department of Toxic Substances 
          Control is required to identify and evaluate chemicals that may 
          pose a hazard to human health, in order to limit exposure to 
          harmful chemicals. Current law authorizes a Green Ribbon Science 
          Panel to advise the Department on technical issues. The Green 
          Ribbon Science Panel has created three subgroups to advise it on 
          specific scientific and technical issues.

          SB 178 codifies the Green Ribbon Science Panel's authority to 
          establish subgroups.

          To date, the subgroups have not met in person. One 
          teleconference has been held at a cost to the Department of 
          about $3,000. In advance of the scheduled May 2011 full Panel 
          meeting, five additional teleconference meetings of the 
          subgroups are scheduled. 

          As proposed to be amended, the bill would limit subgroup 
          teleconference meetings to a total of ten per year.
          
          Staff estimates that ten subgroup meetings by teleconference 
          would cost up to $40,000 per year.

          Staff notes that the Toxic Substances Control Account has a 








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          structural deficit and additional expenditures will necessitate 
          other programmatic reductions or an increase in the tax that 
          provides most of the funding for the Toxic Substances Control 
          Account.